In My Mailbox

From Netgalley

Do I really have to say why I am so excited!? Look at all the pretty books!

Huge thanks to Macmillan and Netgalley :) 

Gifted

My gosh, the blogging community is just , so amazing! I have met such awesome people and I now can't imagine not blogging and having all you wonderful new friends! This week Sarah over at The Book Life sent me this gorgeous book! 

She is making me want to break my reading schedule and read this NOW >.< If you have not checked out her blog before, be sure to follow the link above! 

Thank you so much Sarah!!

Well that's my IMM :) Short but full of pure awesome! - must . read. faster!!

What did you receive last week?! If you have an IMM post be sure to leave a link in the comments so I can visit you!

Happy reading :)

Foreign Cover Friday : The Uglies

Foreign Cover Friday is a weekly meme hosted by The Reading Fever Where we discuss foreign and alternative covers of awesome books!! 

Up this week: The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license--for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there. 
But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world--and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

English Editions

                                 Indonisian                          German

 Portuguese                      Bulgarian

Serbian                             Spanish

Since there are MANY covers here, I'm not going to break down my thoughts on every single one of them, because to be honest, this is a last minute post! ( I'm horrible and forgot >.< ) 


Here are my top 3

#1: German edition. Seriously I love it! No the girl on the cover is not "ugly" but she is not supermodel beautiful, and in the world Scott westerfeld created, you are told from birth, you are ugly until you have the surgery, even if you are already beautiful/handsome. I also really enjoy the effect created by showing the surgical lines.


#2 English edition ( bottom left corner ) I do think its a bit weird, but at the same time, that's what makes me love it even more! I look at it two different ways. 1, they are piecing together barbi doll perfect features. 2, the characters in the book are trying to destroy this idea of perfection. 


#3: English Edition ( top left corner ) Simply and intriguing, plus it's the copy I own, can't help but feel some loyalty to it lol. 


The other ones just didn't totally do it for me. not to say they are all bad, some of them just felt off. Ex: The English edition with the sheet over the face --- just creeps me out too much. ANd the Spanish version feels more like a weird fairy tale than dystopian, yes in this world they can add drastic effects like this to their bodies, but it's not really a huge part in the book I don't think. 



So what are your thoughts! Which ones do you love? Why? Which ones fell short? Why ?


I love hearing your opinions!!


If you have, or want to start, a Foreign cover Friday post of our own don't forget to pop over to the creator of the meme The Reading Fever and link up! Also leave a link to your post in the comments so I can come visit :) 

My wonderful Artsy/Bookish news :)

Some of you already know this, some of you don't, But I am an art student :) Not at a big fancy school, I am not expecting to become the next Picasso, but it's a hobby that I truly enjoy. 

Much of my art comes from my love of reading. Fairy tales, classic stories, and just Bookworm love. Recently one of my Prints was purchased to be used is something so full of Bookish awesomeness, I cannot contain my joy!!

My Red Riding Hood print will be used as Greeting cards and Swag in the promotion of Marissa Meyers' next Book Scarlet !! ( Book #2 in the Lunar Chronicles ) 

Are you squealing right along with me?! No, just me then? OK! lol 

If you have read my review of Cinder ( Marissa's Debut YA Novel ) You know how much I LOVED it :) 

If you haven't read my review : Check it out HERE. 

So keep an eye out guys! ! These goodies will be used in giveaways soon, would you want to win one?

So that's it, My bookish/Artsy Wonderful news! 

Interested in what else I do? I have an etsy shop now! 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JoyfulExpressionsArt

If you are a blogger interested in any of my "Book themed" Art or magnets to use in giveaways send me a message! I'd love to set up a custom order for you :) 

I promise not to fill this blog up with tons of art talk or trying to promote my shop. This was just something I really wanted to share because it is such an amazing opportunity for me and I was excited! 

None of this would have been possible if I had not started this blog and met all of you wonderful people!!!! 

Waiting on Wednesday: Grave Mercy

This week I am waiting on :

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

There are so many reason why I am excited about this book but to name a couple: 

1. I have been NEEDING me some historical fiction :) and this just sounds so awesome!

2. I have heard rumors that this is borderline "adult literature" By that they mean may be a little too much for the YA readers to handle. ( I do not mean multiple Smexy scenes- though I haven't read it so I don't know )  

Here is why that interests me. I think its silly when people separate sections so much like that! YA - Adult. Haven't we realized books can cross genres and age limits? Harry potter, Hunger Games , and yes Twilight and MORE have been widely read by both teens and adults alike. So if A YA book can be read by an Adult, why can't more Adult books be read by YA'ers. I understand that this could have it's limits. I am not going to go plop the Dark Hunters series by Sherrilyn Kenyon in the hands of a 13 yr old. ( Though it is one of my FAVORITE paranormal romance series. ) But I still think overlap is ok!! 

ok I ranted a bit there. Basically I mean I am looking forward to a YA book that pushes the limits!

3. Uh. COVER LOVE - seriously, it's pretty awesome. 

What are you waiting on?! Share in the comments! If you are a blogger with a Waiting on Wednesday post please leave a link so I can visit you back !

Of Poseidon

Hardcover, 324 pages

Expected publication: May 22nd 2012 by Feiwel & Friends

ISBN: 1250003326 (ISBN13: 9781250003324)

edition language

English

Original title: Of Poseidon

Add to Goodreads TBR list!  

 Emma and her friend Chloe are spending vacation in Florida. When Emma (literally) runs into a hot guy named Galen on the beach, little does she know he’s a prince of the Syrena. Galen and Emma both feel something strange – is it attraction? – and Galen suspects that Emma might well be the girl he’s heard of – a human who can communicate with fish.

What follows is a deadly scene with a shark in which Galen witnesses Emma’s gifts. He must know more about her, and follows her back to New Jersey, and high school, to find out for sure if she’s the key to saving his kingdom. Soon, Emma can’t deny her feelings for him, but can’t explain them, either – and both she and Galen must learn more about where she comes from and what her powers are before they can trust one another and their feelings.

So as you all have probably noticed, I've been a bit busy. Not much time to post anything other than weekly memes and the like. But when I got this book. Oh man. I just sat down and READ. 

I flew through this book! It was sweet, and fun , tear jerking and intense. A perfect combination. 

I can't lie, within the first few chapters, I cried. Seriously. And then I was like, "Oh no! Am I going to do this through the whole book!?" I didn't, but man.. I don't think those first few chapters will leave me for awhile... Then again that's one of the marks of a great book!

Of Poseidon isn't all all out thriller, fantasy, or romance. It's a wonderful blend of all and more. 

Emma: A seemingly normal girl, though a bit clumsy.. ok more than a bit >.< I found myself connecting with her on many levels ( though mostly the clumsy ones! ) She goes through a traumatic experience and then suddenly, she is forced to face facts in her life that she though could never be real. 
 

Galen: Oh Galen - Authors, darn you! I already have a real boyfriend!! Why do you give me so many swoonworthy guys!!!?? 

Galen is more than just a swoonworthy guy though, he has the weight of his underwater world on his shoulders, knowing a secret that could save his people, but break his heart.It just made me swoon for him even more to watch him fight to help Emma while struggling over his responsibilities.

The side characters were fun, full of humor and strength when needed, I couldn't get enough!

If you can't guess from the cover, this story is about mermaids "though don't say that in front of Galen ( They call themselves Syrena ) But it was far more than just a lighthearted mermaid tale. Anna banks ties in history of Triton and Poseidon and the politics that hold their underwater world together, as well as tear it apart. All of this mixed into the story helped hold my attention so well!

Most of the story is spent on land, not in the underwater world, I REALLY hope book #2 visits that more! 

A heads up, the ending of this story is INSANE :) In a wonderful, cliffhanging, I want to track down Anna Banks and steal the Manuscript for Book #2 kinda way!! 

If you had been there with me in the moment you would have seen me close and re-open the last page many, many times, and just stare at it in Awe. 

This review isn't very long, but you know what, I don't think it needs to be!! Of Poseidon has all the makings of a great story, and to me it's definitely a  must have!!

If my review hasn't hooked you go check out the other wonderful reviews on Goodreads!! 

Rating: 5/5

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